Systems, articles and methods related to providing customized cooking instruction

Abstract

Systems, methods, and articles to provide customized cooking instructions to users via a communications device. The user is provided with audio/visual prompts depicting one or more ending characteristics of a food product, such as texture or doneness. The user provides a selection of the one or more ending characteristics according to the user's preferences. A processor-based device determines one or more output food preparation parameters based on the user's selection of the one or more ending characteristics for the food product. The one or more determined output food preparation parameters are provided to a communication device of the user so that the user may cook the food product according to the output food preparation parameters.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of operation in a processor-based food preparation guidance system, the method comprising:
 receiving, via a communications device, a request for preparation guidance for a food product; 
 in response to the received request, causing an image or video in a first series of images or videos to be displayed by the communications device,
 wherein each image or video in the first series of images or videos depicts the food product after cooking the food product, 
 wherein each image or video of the first series of images or videos depicts a different gradation of at least one first characteristic of the food product; 
 
 receiving, via the communications device, a selection of one of the gradations of the at least one first characteristic of the food product; 
 in response to receiving the selection of one of the gradations of the at least one first characteristic of the food product, causing an image or video of a subset of a second series of images or videos to be displayed by the communications device, wherein the subset of the second series of images or videos is determined from the second series of images or videos using the selection of one of the gradations of the at least one first characteristic of the food product such that the subset shows images or videos where an outcome of cooking the food product is possible or desirable that are compatible with the first characteristic of the food product, wherein the subset includes a plurality of images or videos;
 wherein each image or video in the second series of images or videos depicts a different gradation of at least one second characteristic of the food product; 
 
 receiving, via the communications device, a selection of one of the gradations of the at least one second characteristic of the food product; 
 determining at least one food preparation parameter for the food product based at least in part on the received selections of one of the gradations of the at least one first characteristic and one of the gradations of the at least one second characteristic of the food product; and 
 sending the at least one food preparation parameter to a cooking device,
 wherein the cooking device is configured to automatically cook the food product based at least in part on the at least one food preparation parameter. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 causing the at least one food preparation parameter to be displayed by the communications device. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2  wherein receiving a selection of one of the gradations of the at least one first characteristic of the food product comprises receiving, via a communications device, a selection of one of the gradations by a processor-based food preparation guidance system over a data network, and determining at least one food preparation parameter comprises determining at least one food preparation parameter by the food preparation guidance system, and wherein causing the at least one food preparation parameter to be displayed by the communications device comprises sending, by the food preparation guidance system, data comprising the at least one food preparation parameter to the communications device over the data network. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2  wherein each image or video in the first series of images or videos depicts different textures, consistencies, or doneness for the food product after cooking the food product. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  wherein receiving a selection of one of the gradations of the at least one first characteristic of the food product comprises receiving, via a communications device, a selection of one of the gradations by a processor-based food preparation guidance system over a data network, and determining at least one food preparation parameter comprises determining at least one food preparation parameter by the food preparation guidance system. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1  wherein determining at least one food preparation parameter for the food product comprises determining at least one of a cooking temperature or a cooking time for the food product. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 receiving a request for preparation guidance for a food product comprises receiving a request for preparation guidance for an egg, the egg having a white portion and a yolk portion, 
 wherein each of the images or videos in the first series of images or videos depicts a respective different texture, consistency, or doneness of one of the white portion and the yolk portion of a cooked egg, 
 wherein receiving a selection of one of the gradations of the at least one first characteristic of the food product comprises receiving a selection of one of the images or videos in the first series of images or videos; 
 wherein each of the images or videos in the second series of images or videos depicts a different texture of the other of the white portion and the yolk portion; and 
 wherein receiving a selection of one of the gradations of the at least one second characteristic of the food product comprises receiving a selection of one of the images or videos in the second series of images or videos; and 
 wherein determining at least one food preparation parameter for the food product comprises determining at least one food preparation parameter for the egg based at least in part on the received selection of one of the images or videos in the first series of images or videos and based at least in part on the received selection of one of the images or videos in the second series of images or videos. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7  wherein determining at least one food preparation parameter comprises determining at least one of a cooking time or a cooking temperature for the egg. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 subsequent to determining at least one food preparation parameter for the food product, causing at least one supplemental prompt to be displayed by the communications device; 
 receiving, via the communications device, a response to the at least one supplemental prompt; and 
 determining at least one additional food preparation parameter for the food product based at least in part on the received response to the supplemental prompt. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9  wherein causing at least one supplemental prompt to be displayed by the communications device comprises causing at least one supplemental prompt to be displayed by the communications device, the at least one supplemental prompt relating to at least one of a physical characteristic of the food product, an environmental condition, or a food preparation condition. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9  wherein causing at least one supplemental prompt to be displayed by the communications device comprises causing at least one supplemental prompt to be displayed by the communications device, the at least one supplemental prompt relating to at least one of a size of the food product, a shape of the food product, a class of the food product, a temperature of the food product, an altitude, a geographic location, or a cooking method. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1  wherein determining at least one food preparation parameter for the food product comprises determining a time and a duration for cooking the food product in a water bath. 
     
     
       13. A processor-based food preparation guidance system, comprising:
 at least one processor; and 
 at least one nontransitory processor-readable medium storing processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
 receive a request for preparation guidance for a food product; 
 in response to the received request, cause an image or video of a first series of images and videos to be displayed by a display of a communications device,
 wherein each image or video in the first series of images or videos depicts the food product after cooking the food product, 
 wherein each image or video in the first series of images or videos depicts a different gradation of at least one first characteristic of the food product; 
 
 receive a selection of one of the gradations of the at least one first characteristic of the food product; 
 in response to receiving the selection of one of the gradations of the at least one first characteristic of the food product, cause an image or video of a subset of a second series of images or videos to be displayed by the communications device, wherein the subset of the second series of images or videos is determined from the second series of images or videos using the selection of one of the gradations of the at least one first characteristic of the food product such that the subset shows images or videos where an outcome of cooking the food product is possible or desirable that are compatible with the first characteristic of the food product, wherein the subset includes a plurality of images or videos;
 wherein each image or video in the second series of images or videos depicts a different gradation of at least one second characteristic of the food product; 
 
 receive, via the communications device, a selection of one of the gradations of the at least one second characteristic of the food product; determine at least one food preparation parameter for the food product based at least in part on the received selection of one of the gradations of the at least one first characteristic and one of the gradations of the at least one second characteristic of the food product; and 
 send the at least one food preparation parameter to a cooking device, wherein the cooking device is configured to receive the at least one food preparation parameter and automatically cook the food product based at least in part on the at least one food preparation parameter. 
 
 
     
     
       14. The processor-based food preparation guidance system of  claim 13  wherein the at least one nontransitory processor-readable medium further stores processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
 cause the at least one food preparation parameter to be displayed by the display of the communications device. 
 
     
     
       15. The processor-based food preparation guidance system of  claim 14  wherein the at least one nontransitory processor-readable medium further stores processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
 receive, via the communications device, a selection of one of the gradations over a data network; and 
 send data comprising the at least one food preparation parameter to the communications device over the data network. 
 
     
     
       16. The processor-based food preparation guidance system of  claim 14  wherein each image or video in the first series of images or videos depicts respective different textures, consistencies, or doneness for the food product. 
     
     
       17. The processor-based food preparation guidance system of  claim 13  wherein the at least one nontransitory processor-readable medium further stores processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
 receive a selection of one of the gradations from the communications device over a data network. 
 
     
     
       18. The processor-based food preparation guidance system of  claim 13  wherein the at least one nontransitory processor-readable medium further stores processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
 cause at least one of a first set of videos to be displayed by the communications device. 
 
     
     
       19. The processor-based food preparation guidance system of  claim 13  wherein the at least one nontransitory processor-readable medium further stores processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
 determine at least one of a cooking temperature or a cooking time for the food product. 
 
     
     
       20. The processor-based food preparation guidance system of  claim 13  wherein the at least one nontransitory processor-readable medium further stores processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
 receive a request for preparation guidance for an egg, the egg having a white portion and a yolk portion, 
 wherein each of the images or videos in the first series of images or videos depicts a respective different texture, consistency, or doneness of one of the white portion and the yolk portion, 
 wherein each of the images or videos in the second series of images or videos depicts a respective different texture, consistency, or doneness of the other of the white portion and the yolk portion; and 
 determine at least one food preparation parameter for the egg based at least in part on a received selection of one of the images or videos in the first series of images or videos and based at least in part on a received selection of one of the images or videos in the second series of images or videos. 
 
     
     
       21. The processor-based food preparation guidance system of  claim 20  wherein the at least one nontransitory processor-readable medium further stores processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
 determine at least one of a cooking time or a cooking temperature for the egg. 
 
     
     
       22. The processor-based food preparation guidance system of  claim 20  wherein the at least one nontransitory processor-readable medium further stores processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
 cause at least one of a second set of videos to be displayed by the display of the communications device based at least in part on a received selection of one of the videos in a first set of videos. 
 
     
     
       23. The processor-based food preparation guidance system of  claim 13  wherein the at least one nontransitory processor-readable medium further stores processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
 cause at least one supplemental prompt to be displayed by the display of the communications device; 
 receive a response to the at least one supplemental prompt; and 
 determine at least one additional food preparation parameter for the food product based at least in part on the received response to the supplemental prompt. 
 
     
     
       24. The processor-based food preparation guidance system of  claim 23  wherein the at least one supplemental prompt relates to at least one of a physical characteristic of the food product, an environmental condition, or a food preparation condition. 
     
     
       25. The processor-based food preparation guidance system of  claim 23  wherein the at least one supplemental prompt relates to at least one of a size of the food product, a shape of the food product, a class of the food product, a temperature of the food product, an altitude, a geographic location, or a cooking method. 
     
     
       26. The processor-based food preparation guidance system of  claim 13  wherein the at least one nontransitory processor-readable medium further stores processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
 determine a time and a duration for cooking the food product in a water bath.